Fine Late 19th Century Bunraku Puppet of a Sambaso Dancer. This rare Bunraku puppet is operated by three Puppet Masters, who make it come to life to present a magical theatrical experience. He is carved of wood and covered with Gofun. He wears a beautiful Robin egg blue and Saffron orange robes. His head is adorned with a silver and black hat featuring a rising sun. He is holding bells and a fan. 24.5 inches, 62cm.

Next to the Kabuto (Helmet), one of the most expressive parts of the Samurai's Armor is the Face Mask. This Middle Edo Period metal "armor for the face" is known by many names: mengu, menpo, mempo, men yoroi, katchu men. Menpo means "face and cheek" and is generally used for masks with nose pieces. This menpo is covered with a high quality gold lacquer. The inside is a negoro-like finish of red lacquer. Sporting a fantastic horse hair mustache...

Fine early example of a Jomon Period Dogu Clay Figure, the earliest known Japanese figures. The Dogu acted as effigies of people. They manifested some kind of sympathetic magic. For example, it may have been believed that illnesses could be transferred into the Dogu, and then destroyed, clearing the illness, or any other misfortune. Because of the ritual destruction of Dogu, they are quite rare. This primitive abstract fertility figure has a futuristic look...

Late Edo Period Musha Ningyo of Ushiwaka- maru, a brave boy who grew up to be the great warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune. This is a Ningyo of the finest quality. He has a wonderfully carved face and hands and sports a fantastic hair style and has a beautiful costume of sumptuous brocades. 8h x 6.75w inches, 20.5 x 17 cm.

Extremely Rare Edo Period Isho Ningyo Pulling a Wagon with a Crane. Early 18th Century Ningyo like this very rarely come up for sale. This Isho Ningyo is special, as it resembles a Karakui (mechanical) Ningyo. This important Ningyo has a classic face with painted features, sumptuous embroidered textiles, and is pulling a cart that has a crane inside. It stands on a lacquered base. A similar example is in the Homa Museum in Japan. 14.5h x 9.5w inches, 37h x 24w cm.

Japanese Gosho Ningyô with Samurai Attire, Signed by the 10th Generation Ningyo Artist Rozon. This master work is the results of ten generations and three centuries of ningyo artists. Unfortunately, it seems it is the end of the line for this studio. The children are not interested in continuing, which we think is sad. This Gosho is one of the most amazing examples of 20th century Japanese art. It features so many wonderful examples of great Japanese art forms...

Late Edo Period Takeda Ningyô of Kabuki Actor Dolls Portraying Benkie and Yoshitune. It is rare to find this type in such fine condition. This wonderfully mesmerizing work of art is so striking in its posing and expression, positioned on a lacquered and wood platform. A fascinating find for the Japanese theater enthusiast. 14h x 23w inches, 35.5h x 58.5w cm.

Rare Edo Period Kokin-bina Style of Empress & Emperor. Minor wear, fading to textile, otherwise fine condition. A classic, very early example of a Dairi-bina Imperial Couple for the Hina-matsuri Girl's Day celebration. The Emperor and Empress are seated atop a woven ungenberi fronted dais. They are a very fine early example. The emperor is wearing a lacquered court cap and tail, holding a shaku scepter, the me-bina lady is wearing a spectacular crown, and has a fabulous painted fan...

Exceptional Gonin Bayashi Five Musician set for the Hina Matsuri (Girl's Day) celebration. Just a wonderful grouping: a chanter, flute player, two hand drummers and a floor drummer, each with an expressive and well-modeled face, finely carved fingers and hands in precise gestures for their individual instruments, sumptuous silk brocade costumes, short swords, silk fiber hair, and large inset glass eyes. They are of the finest quality. 7 inches, 18 cm tall.

Pair of Inari Foxes of sculptured and fired clay with luminescent powered white glaze. In traditional Japanese art, a pair of foxes typically flank the deity Inari’s shrine image. But in modern times, images of Inari have all but disappeared, replaced instead by images of Oinari’s messenger, the magical shape-shifting fox (kitsune 狐). Here the symbolism is two-fold. First, rice is sacred in Japan, closely associated with fertility (the pregnant earth) and with sustaining life...

A lucky ammer in red decorates the inside of this large bowl by Mamiya Eishu enclosed in a period wooden box. It appears to read Kishoho or Kishohon (the method to satisfaction or the root of satisfaction respectively). The bowl is 7-1/2 inches (19 cm) diameter and in excellent condition. Eishu (1871-1945)entered the priesthood at the age of nine at Ryutakuji Temple under the training of the priest Tengan...

Beautiful Kyoto Nishijin silk obi, decorated with flowers, ribbons and mirrors. Gold is genuine and used in two different methods; strips of gilt paper (machine cut) and gold leaf wrapped around the silk threads. Some gold leaf are natually missing from the strips of paper - this did not show up in most photos (see enlargement photo). This obi looks older (clean) than shown in the photos. Circa 1920-1940. Dimensions: 12 3/4" x 170"

A delicately painted earthenware Satsuma dish depicting pagodas and blossoming trees in a rocky mountain landscape. The base could be signed "Sozan". This item was made in japan during the Meiji period (1868-1911). Condition - there is a little scratching and what appears to be a minor surface blemish in one small area (please see enlargement 5)- no chips, cracks or restoration...

The theme on this fukusa (Japanese gift cover) is “Kin ki Sho ga”, four accomplishments of noblemen. For a man to be well balanced and eventually become a good leader, practicing (and become good at) of “Kin ki Sho ga” was encouraged during their leisure time; ‘Kin’ (Jp. Koto, string music instrument), ‘ki’ (jp. ‘Go’, Chinese chess), ‘sho’ (calligraphy) and ‘ga’ (painting). This started in China and was brought back to Japan by traveling monks studying Buddhism...

Kawase Hasui
Kankai Temple, Beppu Hot Springs, 1927
Publisher: Bijutsusha. One of only eight Hasui designs published by Bijutsusha. Bears the red "Rumi" publisher's seal.
Size: Oban, approximately 15.0 x 10.25 inches.
Condition: Unframed. Excellent. A small (2 mm) hole in the dark green foliage has been invisibly repaired by a conservator. Short green dash in grey upper right sky.
A lush landscape format print and a rare design. Beppu is among Japan's most famous hot spri...

Small flat Buddhist shrine, constructed as a triptych. When open, the middle section houses Amida Nyorai in raised carving, sitting on a lotus throne under a baldachin and surrounded by clouds. On the left panel Seishi bosatsu with his hands folded in prayer, on the right panel Kannon bosatsu with the lotus in his hands. Both bodhisattva surrounded by clouds as well. Sandalwood with details of garment and baldachin in gold. Background in lapis blue.
The outside decorated in makie: A lotus...

This is a fine old Japanese Porcelain vase from a rare Artist. The vase is very heavy and it stands 12 inches tall. The vase is decorated in underglaze blues and reds much like some of the Makuzu Kozan Pieces. There is an unknown impressed signature on the bottom. Maybe someone in Japan will recognize the signature of this fine studio artist. The vase was once a lamp and the hole has been nicely restored.

A large cloth, silk brocade, lined with cotton with ties on one side. Dimensions: 104 1/4” long x 45” in width (2.65m x 1.14m). There are four 26” panels sewn together (sewing machine), each panel is decorated with a pair of phoenix birds one parched on a paulownia tree and the other on a rock. Although the fabric is of high quality silk, it actually is older than it appears - you need to handled gently. The gold sparkles when it is hit by lights. The color is not red. It is mo...